Yes. Lifters will have equal travel unless the plunger is stuck. New lifters come in the up position out of the box. The internal spring is holding the push rod seat up against the retaining snap ring. Clean the lifters with mineral spirits and let dry. When you set the pre-load, the push rod seat will push down against the internal spring and will hold that setting until the engine fills the lifters with oil.

If the lifters are full of oil, the pre-load adjustment cannot push down against the oil and the pre-load will open the valve instead. The valve will remain open until the oil is bled out of the lifters. If you attempt to start the engine with the valves open......guess what will happen. It will be just like missing a shift at 6,000 RPM.